Reply To: Knowing God, Chapters 3 & 4

[Wes]

Chapter 3 – Knowing and Being Known

Packer’s central argument is that the main purpose of every person is to know God, quoting from John 17:3, Jer 9:23-24, and Hos 6:6. He argues that “life’s problems fall into place” once someone becomes aware that this is their purpose (p 34). I don’t disagree that it gives someone the right perspective on life, and I think there is even more that could be said here. If someone were to read this on the surface, they might think “life’s problems will go away”. I think instead he is arguing that our perspective changes, not the context in which we exist. In fact, our problems might become worse or increase when we become a Christian.

From there Packer discusses the definition of “know”. We “know” different people at different depths based on our relationship with them and how much they have decided to share with us their lives. God knows us a “covenant partner” and has shared enough knowledge about himself with us for us to understand him (not fully, but enough). Later he makes the point that it is the fact that God knows us is the important part, and that he knows us in a personal way through grace.

We can only know God through knowing Jesus, and he emphasizes that we know Jesus through the Gospel accounts and the rest of the Bible. Yes, and I would add that we have the Holy Spirit in us, who helps us to understand the Bible and apply it.